The domestic corporate goods price index stood at 95.8 on a yearly average for 2002 against a base of 100 for 2000, down 1.9 percent from 2001 for the second consecutive yearly decline, the Bank of Japan said Friday.

In an effort to more accurately reflect price swings, the central bank released the CGPI to replace the wholesale prices index. It is the first time the BOJ has replaced the index in 20 years.

The new index showed a larger year-on-year decline than the WPI, which reflects the ongoing deflationary pressure on the Japanese economy, the BOJ said.